ADT Alarm Is Not Loud Enough (Raising the Volume)

ADT is one of the most recognizable names in home security systems, and they’ve been in business since 1874. ADT alarms are supposed to be 140dB. What if that isn’t loud enough?

To turn up your ADT alarm, you need to have an ADT Technician come out and look at your system. ADT alarms are roughly 140dB, and anything lower needs to be checked.

None of the ADT panels will allow you to adjust the alarm siren levels without a technician’s help. There may be some other volume controls with the system; read on to learn more.

Can You Adjust the ADT Alarm Volume?

Hearing your alarm can be difficult or impossible for someone hard of hearing or if you are in a room with thick walls. It would be helpful if you could adjust the volume of your alarm to help.

You can only raise and lower the voice, keypad, and chime volumes with your ADT alarm through the app. If your ADT alarm system has a low volume alarm, it’s most likely the cause of defective equipment, and you’ll need to contact ADT Customer Service.

Remember, the alarm siren is around 140dB, which is as loud as a jet taking off from a landing strip, so it’s pretty loud. It has to be at least 85dB according to National Standards.

If your alarm volume level has suddenly dropped or has always been low, you should try resetting the system. ADT Pulse and ADT Command panels make it a simple process.

Troubleshooting a Quiet ADT Alarm

Your ADT Pulse Gateway is the black, rectangular box close to your router. It looks like a standard router stood on end and will usually have a blinking red or green LED lights. Rebooting it is a pretty standard affair.

1. To reset it, simply unplug it from the wall outlet and the ethernet cable that tethers it to your router. ADT recommends waiting a full five minutes before restarting the Gateway.
2. Plug the Pulse Gateway back in after five minutes have elapsed and let it cycle back up before plugging it back into the ethernet port on the back of your router.
3. Once it reconnects, the Pulse Gateway is reset.

This may not fix the problem; unfortunately, there are no other means to change the alarm volume, so an ADT technician will probably be needed to check the system.

How to Raise and Lower Volume on the ADT Panel

There are a large number of different models and versions of ADT panels. So, there is a myriad ways to raise and lower the volume. You first need to know which model you have.

If you are unsure which ADT panel you have, check here for more information.

Once you know which ADT security system you are using in your home or business, you need to find the system’s User Manual or User Guide to find out how to adjust the volume on your panel.

You can go here for a list of ADT Home Security Manuals and User Guides. Download and follow the instructions on how to raise and lower the volume on your specific ADT panel.

Can the Blue by ADT Alarm System Volume Be Adjusted?

Blue by ADT is a stand alone security cameras similar to Ring or Blink home security cameras. Only these are supported by one of the largest names in home security, ADT Alarm Systems.

As with the ADT systems, the only volume controls available for the Blue by ADT Alarm System are for chimes, the keypad, voice responses, and other bells or whistles. 

If the Blue by ADT alarm siren is not very loud—like any other ADT equipment, you can reset the system before calling Blue by ADT Customer Service.

Blue by ADT has a different kind of alarm system than standard ADT home security setups, but it’s still considered to be pretty loud. 

If the decibels are pretty weak, try resetting the system. Like the Pulse Gateway, Blue by ADT utilizes a hub to tie in your cameras, sensors, alarms, and motion detectors.

1. To reset the Blue by ADT Smart Home Hub, unplug it from the wall outlet and disconnect the ethernet from your router (if applicable).
2. After five minutes, plug it back in and allow it to cycle back up. If connected via ethernet, plug the ethernet back into the router after the hub has fully cycled back on.

Unfortunately, customer service is just about the only recourse when it comes to adjusting alarm siren levels. Contact customer support, and arrange for a technician to visit your home. 

If your alarm has gone off, but you didn’t receive a call from ADT, check here for more information.

Final Thoughts

ADT and Blue by ADT systems are pretty reliable as home security setups go. The ADT company wouldn’t be 150 years old if they weren’t. Quiet alarm sirens aren’t a common occurrence.

The DIY aspect of repairing it is also largely out of your hands. Chimes, voice volume, keypad notes, and alerts have adjustable volumes. However, it seems the siren does not.

Fortunately, ADT customer service is pretty dependable and reasonably responsive as far as getting a technician out to fix your equipment.